Formicaite
A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Formicaite
Formula:
Ca(HCOO)2
Colour:
White with bluish tint
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
1
Specific Gravity:
1.9
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
For its chemical composition: the FORMate of CAlcium.
Dimorph of:
Naturally occurring calcium formate - one of just two such minerals currently known (compare dashkovaite).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
6954
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:6954:6
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
c935fb3e-d46e-4ce0-b809-48cd284b5713
IMA Classification of Formicaite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Ca(CHOO)2
Approval year:
1998
First published:
1999
Classification of Formicaite
10.AA.05
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
A : Salts of organic acids
A : Formates, Acetates, etc.
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
A : Salts of organic acids
A : Formates, Acetates, etc.
Dana 7th ed.:
50.2.3.1
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Fmc | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Formicaite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
White with bluish tint
Streak:
White
Hardness:
1 on Mohs scale
Comment:
H=1 for compact aggregates
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{001}
{001}
Density:
1.9(1) g/cm3 (Measured) 1.93(2) g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Formicaite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.553 nε = 1.573
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.020
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Chemistry of Formicaite
Mindat Formula:
Ca(HCOO)2
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Formicaite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4 2 2 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:
P41 21 2
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.79(4) Å, c = 9.50 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.399
Unit Cell V:
437.99 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
5.54 Å | (90) |
3.40 Å | (100) |
3.19 Å | (60) |
2.859 Å | (80) |
2.196 Å | (70) |
1.947 Å | (60) |
Comments:
Almost identical to that of synthetic Ca β-formiate
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Near-surface Processes | |
23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations |
Type Occurrence of Formicaite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Compact cryptocrystalline and colloform masses, and as aggregates in which the crystals are tabular and up to 5 × 30 × 30 µm. Also in a veinlet in skarnified marble.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
A. E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Moscow, Russia.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Hydrothermal veinlets that cut kurchatovite-sakhaite ore at the skarn deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Chukanov, N.V., Malinko, S.V., Lisitsyn, A.E., Dubinchuk, V.T., Kuz'mina, O.V., Zadov, A.E. (1999) Formicaite Ca(HCO2)2, a new mineral. Zapiski Vserossijskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 128(2): 43-47.
Synonyms of Formicaite
Other Language Names for Formicaite
German:Formicait
Spanish:Formicaita
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
10.AA. | Stanevansite | Mg(C2H3O3)2 · 2H2O |
10.AA. | Jimkrieghite | Ca(C2H3O3)2 |
10.AA. | Lianbinite | (NH4)(C2H3O3)(C2H4O3) |
10.AA. | Glecklerite | Na(C2H3O3) |
10.AA.10 | Dashkovaite | Mg(HCOO)2 · 2H2O |
10.AA.20 | Acetamide | CH3CONH2 |
10.AA.25 | Calclacite | Ca(CH3COO)Cl · 5H2O |
10.AA.30 | Paceite | CaCu(CH3COO)4 · 6H2O |
10.AA.35 | Hoganite | Cu(CH3COO)2 · H2O |
10.AA.40 | Lazaraskeite | Cu(C2H3O3)2 |
10.AA.45 | Marchettiite | C5H7N5O3 |
Fluorescence of Formicaite
Some specimens have a weak, light bluish luminescence in shortwave ultraviolet light.
Other Information
IR Spectrum:
Absorption bands at 791, 1364, 1380, and 1603 (very strong), 2870 (weak), and 2925 cm–1 (very weak).
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Formicaite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-6954.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Formicaite
Localities for Formicaite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Russia (TL) | |
| Chukanov et al. (1999) +1 other reference |
| maurice.strahlen.org (2004) |
| Chukanov et al. (1999) +1 other reference |
USA | |
| Gunnar Färber - Mineralienliste 1-2018. +2 other references |
Quick NavTopAbout FormicaiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography X-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesStrunz-MindatFluorescence Other InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Solongo B deposit, Ozernoe ore cluster, Yeravninsky District, Buryatia, Russia